Jon Daly handles the ball and concedes a free kick. The referee shows Jon Daly a yellow card for unsporting behaviour. Patrick Clarke has an effort direct from the free kick, blocked by Jon Daly. Gary Mackay-Steven grabs a goal from close in to the top left corner of the goal. Dunfermline 1-4 Dundee Utd.Assist on the goal came from Johnny Russell.

78:18

Stuart Armstrong on for Scott Robertson.

77:16

Patrick Clarke replaces Andy Kirk.

76:00

The ball is delivered by Paul Dixon, Johnny Russell takes a shot.

75:17

Willo Flood crosses the ball, save by Paul Gallacher.

73:33

Scott Allan takes a shot. Gary Mackay-Steven takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Johnny Russell scores a goal from close range high into the middle of the goal. Dunfermline 1-3 Dundee Utd.

Free kick awarded for a foul by Patrick Boyle on Lauri Dalla Valle. The ball is sent over by Willo Flood, Paul Dixon gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Dunfermline 0-1 Dundee Utd.

8:54

Corner taken by Paul Burns, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Jason Thomson goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

6:04

Unfair challenge on Lauri Dalla Valle by Alex Keddie results in a free kick. Scott Robertson produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, save by Paul Gallacher. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Willo Flood, Alex Keddie manages to make a clearance.

5:44

Patrick Boyle sends in a cross, save made by Dusan Pernis.

5:09

Ryan Dow takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.

Match Preview

Easton: We're ready for United test
Craig Easton expects to face a determined Dundee United side following their cup exit against Falkirk - but the Dunfermline midfielder has warned his former club that the Pars are intent on building on recent improvement.
United manager Peter Houston publicly addressed reports he faced the sack in the wake of their penalties loss in the Scottish Communities League Cup.
The Tayside club go into the game one point and one place above the Pars in the bottom three of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, although the home side have not won since their triumph at Tannadice in August.
But Easton has seen signs of improvement in recent weeks and Dunfermline deservedly ended a three-match losing streak with a late equaliser at Inverness last weekend.
Easton feels United have been subjected to some harsh criticism, especially after losing talent such as David Goodwillie, Craig Conway and Morgaro Gomis in the summer.
But he is eager to make life worse in the short term for his former team.
Easton, who left United for Livingston in 2004 before a long spell in England, said: "They struggled the other night but it was a tough tie for them. I know they are getting a bit of stick but it was never going to be easy.
"It will be a tough game for us. I'm sure they will want to put the cup tie behind them, so they will be right up for this.
"We have to be ready for that, and I'm sure we will."
The 32-year-old added: "When you have players doing really well, they are going to get snapped up by bigger clubs.
"It doesn't help if you're trying to build a team. It's hard to compete with clubs in England and the wages. The boys who have left have all gone to big clubs in England.
"But they have a lot of good youngsters coming through. We played them in a friendly recently and they looked pretty tidy.
"We know what it's going to be like but we're confident we can get a result.
"Hopefully we can make the same sort of start we made against Inverness but just get a couple of goals.
"If we do that, we're confident we can get a result."
A bullish Peter Houston has focused on preparing his Dundee United squad amid speculation about his future at the club.
United have two SPL wins this season - the most recent on September 17 - and have lost five matches to sit two points off the bottom of the table in 10th place, but also two points behind sixth-placed St Mirren.
Houston is yet to speak to United chairman Stephen Thompson about recent results, which included Tuesday's Scottish Communities League Cup quarter-final loss to Falkirk on penalties.
Thompson is understood to have returned to the United Kingdom today after cutting short a family holiday and will hold discussions with Houston after the East End Park fixture.
Turning the momentum around and winning at 11th-placed Dunfermline are Houston's focus and he hopes his side can show a response from the midweek defeat.
He said: "We were expected to beat Dunfermline at Tannadice. We didn't (losing 1-0 on August 20).
"Anything can happen. I'm quite sure Dunfermline will be thinking along the same lines.
"They might be facing a wounded animal from losing the (Falkirk) match the other night - I hope they are.
"What we have to do is don't feel sorry for ourselves, because we're out of the cup.
"We need to make sure it acts as a spur to try and get a run of league games and get up the league."
Following the Dunfermline fixture, United play Rangers, Hearts, Motherwell and Celtic, but Houston maintains belief he can stop the slide.
He added: "We've got a very difficult run of games, but sometimes that's better than playing teams you're expected to beat.
"We had a tough run of games last year and won seven or eight on the trot - a lot of people didn't expect us to go to Ibrox and win."
Houston is first focused on the Pars and hopes his side's luck will turn, because morale is good.
The performance of Johnny Russell, who scored United's opening goal on Tuesday, was one of the brighter aspects of Tuesday's loss and Houston hopes the striker can build on his display.
Houston added: "He looked sharp and scored a good goal. He'll gain confidence from that."
Russell could start tomorrow, but Houston has a number of injury concerns to undisclosed players.
Sean Dillon (calf) remains out, but could return for next week's clash at Rangers, while Danny Swanson (knee) and Scott Severin (broken leg) are still absent.
end

Formation:442Manager: Jim McIntyre

Dunfermline

Formation: 442Manager: Peter Houston

Dundee Utd

Paul Gallacher

Jason Thomson

Alex Keddie

John Potter

Austin McCann

Paul Burns

Gary Mason

Craig Easton

Patrick Boyle

Andy Kirk

David Graham

SUBS

Chris Smith

Steven McDougall

Andy Dowie

Patrick Clarke

Paul Willis

Ryan Thomson

Kerr Young

Home

Away

Dusan Pernis

Keith Watson

Jon Daly

Gavin Gunning

Paul Dixon

Willo Flood

Scott Robertson

John Rankin

Ryan Dow

Johnny Russell

Lauri Dalla Valle

SUBS

Steve Banks

Barry Douglas

Stuart Armstrong

Gary Mackay-Steven

Scott Allan

Dale Hilson

Patrick Barrett

Match Report

Terrors crush Pars
Dundee United eased the pressure on under-fire manager Peter Houston with a 4-1 hammering of Dunfermline at East End Park.
First-half goals from Paul Dixon and Lauri Dalla Valle gave United a comfortable advantage but Andy Kirk netted early in the second half to pull the home side back into it.
However, late goals from Johnny Russell and Mackay-Steven secured victory for the visitors.
It was understood before the match that Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson had cut short a family holiday to hold talks with Houston after the match.
The visitors enjoyed much of the early possession and created the first chance of the game when some neat build-up play led to Ryan Dow striking wide.
Two minutes later Dunfermline goalkeeper Paul Gallagher was forced into an excellent low stop from Gavin Gunning's ferocious free-kick.
United grabbed the goal their play merited after 13 minutes when Willo Flood's free-kick was only partially cleared allowing Dixon to unleash a fantastic left-footed drive into the bottom right corner.
United doubled their lead five minutes later when Dixon's tame effort was deflected into the path of Dalla Valle who coolly slotted the ball beyond Gallagher.
The home side created their first chance of the game after 22 minutes but David Graham's powerful shot was off target and their miserable start to the game continued when midfielder Gary Mason was shown a straight red card following a reckless challenge on Russell.
The home fans were furious at referee Steve O'Reilly's decision but Mason appeared to have his studs raised in the tackle.
United were well in command and continued to search for goals. Scott Robertson passed up a good opportunity after 35 minutes when he shot over from Dow's intelligent cut-back.
It was the visitors who made the brighter start to the second half and in the opening minute Gallagher did well to stop Dow's shot from distance.
Dunfermline came close to pulling a goal back after 50 minutes when Kirk's cross clipped the top of the crossbar, giving the home fans cause for optimism.
United manager Houston made his first change of the game after 53 minutes when he replaced goalscorer Dalla Valle with Mackay-Steven.
The home side grabbed an unlikely goal 10 minutes into the second half when Paddy Boyle won the ball in the midfield and set up Kirk who slotted the ball beyond Dusan Pernis.
From there they began to grow in stature and Jim McIntyre introduced striker Steven McDougall in place of Boyle.
But it was United who continued to create the better chances and they came close to grabbing a third goal when substitute Scott Allen's excellent run into the box forced Gallagher into an excellent stop.
John Rankin almost turned the rebound in but Alex Keddie was on hand to bundle the ball out for a corner.
With 16 minutes remaining United notched a crucial third goal when Russell took full advantage of poor defending from Mackay-Smith's corner to slam home from close range.
Russell had a glorious opportunity to add to his tally minutes later when Dixon slid the ball across the penalty area but the midfielder struck the bar with his first effort and blazed the rebound over.
With eight minutes remaining United secured victory with a fantastic piece of breakaway football.
From a Dunfermline corner Flood released Russell and the midfielder's jinxing run ended with a cool pass to Mackay-Smith who tapped home a fourth.